Rotary Cutter How much oil to put in rotary cutter?

[rootytoot]

I was getting ready to do some mowing with my old John Deere 516 rotary cutter last month, and I checked the oil level before starting... only to find it less than obvious how much oil to put in. Here's a photo of what the dip stick looks like:

I was expecting to find a fairly obvious "FULL" marking somewhere, but all I could see was two faint rings down near the bottom, and two transverse holes up near the top. It seemed like the two inscribed rings down near the bottom were too low to effectively lubricate, so I just gave it a jolt to bring it up halfway and called it good. Any idea how far to fill this?

Thanks in advance, as always.

 

[greg_g]

When I see a dipstick like that, I interpret the lines as the low fluid mark. The hydraulic fluid dipstick on both my tractors is like that. I don't put any fluid in until the level drops below that line. I found out the messy way that too much fluid just ends up coming out the vent anyway.

I don't know that transmission specifically, but my three mowers all have a threaded plug about halfway up the side of the case. I remove that plug, if gear oil comes out - it's "full". If nothing comes out - I add gear oil till it does, then reinstall the plug.

//greg//

 

[beenthere]

As Greg g said, there's a side plug on there to check. Check that against your dip stick.

 

[herd]

Is a gear oil dipstick standard on all rotary cutters? I recently bought a 6' Hardee bush hog and was told I only needed to lube the two grease fittings, which is all I've done.

 

[Opti-Mist]

Is a gear oil dipstick standard on all rotary cutters? I recently bought a 6' Hardee bush hog and was told I only needed to lube the two grease fittings, which is all I've done.

No, most just have a combination fill/level plug. Add gear oil as required to maintain the oil level at the plug opening.

 

[rootytoot]

OK, thanks for the responses... I'll check for the side plug. I thought I looked for one, but I may have missed it.

Cheers,

Kurt

 

[greg_g]

I'll check for the side plug. I thought I looked for one, but I may have missed it.

Good idea. Two of mine have a conventional square headed plug protruding, it's removed with an open end wrench. The 3rd has a flush plug, opened with an Allen key. Much less obvious than the other pair

//greg//

 

[Soundguy]

Good idea. Two of mine have a conventional square headed plug protruding, it's removed with an open end wrench. The 3rd has a flush plug, opened with an Allen key. Much less obvious than the other pair

//greg//

that gear box looks suspiciously like the center and side box on my JD 1517 batwing mower. it too has a breathered-dipstick like that.. but no level plug.. just the fill and stick. on mine there is a definate ring on the bottom you need to have oil to.. remember.. these are splash lubed..e tc.

for your piece of mind.. you can remove that entire top plate with those bolts on top and nothing flies out at ya.. then you can see where the gear rests in the oil, and as such pick up and xfers to the other, and slings. just clean the mating surfaces and use some rtv when you join her back up after you feel better about looking in. ( seriously.. I did on my batwing!.. I pulled one o fthe box tops for a looksee to see where the oil level on the stick coresponded to the gears... got lots of hours on that 15' cutter since then.. and it had lots on it when I got it.. )

soundguy

 

[jfay]

I am not familiar with your piece of equipment, but the general rule in gear boxes is to fill up to the center line of the horizontal shaft. It looks like that would be the same as the two lower markings on your dipstick. I have a JD rototiller with a similar dipstick . You don't want to overfill.

J.

 

[beenthere]

I just ran across a tech note from Deere on the Gearcase Dipstick (same as shown in the pic above).
In the Note it says
"Do not operate the cutter without filling to the FULL mark on the dipstick or gearcase will be damaged". Install dipstick and tighten until snug, DO NOT overtighten. "

There is no mention which line is the FULL mark, but I strongly suspect the second ring up from the bottom is the one. Only about 3/8" from the tip of the dipstick.